The Dragon's New Claws

[Omicron]

Bridge was circular, with many battlestations, controls and electronics segregated by purpose. Each currently required manned by a specialist soldier or an officer. As opposed to the controlled chaos of the hangar bay, everything up here was so orderly and disciplined. The huge reinforced panels showed the familiar blue of Okamura nebula that veiled the entirety of Chugoku. Something each Blood Dragon stationed in the home fleet would learn to call home.

““I am aware of each and every limitation you face. The Order can not exactly print out new ships as it wishes either, being limited by shortcomings same as you, or specific to the Omicron region. I would be extremely unwise to approach you with a demand without offering anything in return.”


They reached a place that could be considered the throne: seat of the commanding officer elevated upon all else. Big holographic display was mounted straight ahead, giving the already imposing position the ability to absorb as much information as possible to command the ship effectively. It was occupied by an officer - executive commander most likely - that ran the ship in absence of higher authority… that just happens to be handling the guests. The XO would not interrupt them whatsoever, having been granted authority to run ongoing operations. Discipline and clear separation of responsibilities - permanent or temporary - was evident on this bridge. Admiral nodded to Valkyrie, an agent that has been accompanying them from the start but remains quiet yet vigilant so far. Seems they had rehearsed what they were meant to do beforehand.

“Blood Dragons have a gap in their arsenal that can be easily exploited. Your cruisers were clearly designed and built with intent to hunt larger foes, and Togo-class old and new have all constraints that come with the doctrine of battleships even if it should accurately be called a super heavy cruiser. Takeda-class has no match in Kusari right now.”

As they spoke, before their eyes they saw a Geb. Visual representation of Order assault carrier staged next to ships of similar role and size that Blood Dragons know well. The Kusari Naval battlecruiser, The infamous Komainu. Valkyrie scrolled the list higher, going past Osiris and Togo hulls. The Nomad ultimate warforms: named by Order scientists Marduk followed by an entity labelled as Ishtar - an abomination with immense artillery potential, its alpha strike capability is undeniable. Final entry on the list dwarfed these both. So rare it never received official designation by The Order. Each of these could be considered sovereign towns and cities in their own right, going by size alone.

“We cannot even be sure that this final entry is intended as a combat ship, its size is far from practical. Nonetheless, I would not want it to come close to any inhabited planet. Remember Toledo.” Remember Toledo. Toledo was glassed more than a decade ago, the man in front of Shogun was one of those who fought there. “Osiris-class was envisioned as a stealthy pocket battleship, not to face these monsters frontally. The Resheph-class has an impressive array of weapons but its primary role is electronic warfare and reconnaissance. All of these adversaries of ours have same weakness as Togukawa. It's difficult to miss.”

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